ATHENS, Ohio (July 17, 2006) -- Ohio University Press authors Diane Beers and Gayle Pritchard will make separate appearances on "The Diane Rehm Show," a National Public Radio program with more than 1.4 million weekly listeners.

"The Diane Rehm Show," a nationally syndicated program, airs daily on numerous NPR stations, including WOUB FM, at 10 a.m. daily. Beers will be interviewed July 24 and Pritchard on Dec. 12.

"It's a national show, and they're looking for authors whose work is important. 'The Diane Rehm Show' gets some of the best political and cultural speakers who are often nationally known," said Jeff Kallet, Ohio University Press book publicist.

Beers will discuss her book, "For the Prevention of Cruelty: The History and Legacy of the Animal Rights Activism in the United States." The book, already in its second printing, is the first chronicled history of animal advocacy in nearly 50 years.

"The book is a history that begins after the Civil War and goes up to 1975. The history of animal rights movement hasn't been told as comprehensively as Beers has done," Kallet said. "What many people don't know is the history of animal advocacy that took place before 1975. That is what is important. It's a cause in the United States with roots going back a century and-a-half."

Ohio native Pritchard will discuss "Uncommon Threads: Ohio's Art Quilt Revolution." In her book, Pritchard explains the emergence of the art quilt and explains Ohio's pioneering involvement, including assistance from Athens' Quilt National at the Dairy Barn, on the international movement that led to a new quilting art form.

"It's a real achievement to have authors representing Ohio University and Ohio University Press on this national program. It's great exposure for both the authors and the school. We feel confident it will do positive things for the books' sales," Kallet said.

Beers is an associate professor of history at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, Mass. Pritchard is a fiber artist, lecturer, curator and teacher. Her works are in collections at The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Smithsonian Craft Archives in Washington, D.C., and the Peter B. Lewis building in Cleveland.